Working surfaces for refining engines



Nov. 27, 1962 C. A. JOHNSON ETAL WORKING SURFACES FOR REFINING' ENGINES2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1959 NVENTORS JOHNSON WILLIAM E HILDEBIMLHARLES A.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1962 c. A. JOHNSON EIAL WORKING SURFACES FOR REFININGENGINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1959 IN VEN TORS JOHNSONATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiicie WORKING SURFACES FOR REFENINGENGINES Charles A. Johnson, Andover, and William F. Hildebrandt,Lawrence, Mass, assiguors to John W. Bolton & Sons, Inc., Lawrence,Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 22, 1959, Ser. No.788,302 8 Claims- (Cl. 241-294) This invention relates to an improvedworking surface for rotary pulp treatment engines especially of therotary disc or rotary cone type.

It is especially designed for use in Jordan or Clafiin type refiningengines wherein a truncated conical plug, or rotor, rotates within atruncated conical shell, or stator. It has long been customary toprovide removable shell liners for both the plug and shell of suchengines and usually the liners have had a single longitudinal split sothat they can be slid into place and then wedged or clamped in position.When the treatment members have been longitudinally extending bars orknives, the bodily transportable fillings, or liners, have usually beenheld together by rivets, wires or bars passing laterally through theknives and separators or by hoops or rings passing over the ends of thesame. The assembling of such a bodily transportable, frustro conical,shell liner or plug jacket has required considerable time and effort andinvolved the use of jigs, forms and the like to achieve a proper fit inthe shell, or on the plug, of the engine.

When an abrasive action has been desired, rather than the shearingaction of knives, it has also been proposed to provide a unitary splitliner formed of longitudinally extending bars, or strips, in whichplastic material has been cast or molded therebetween. For example, inUS. Patent No. 2,212,082 to Steinbarger of August 20, 1940, a filler fora Jordan engine is disclosed which is of split, truncated conical form,there being longitudinally extending metal bars welded to each other allaround the filler, abrasive material filling the spaces between the barsand outwardly projecting blades on the bars. In US. Patent 2,633,778 toStuck of April 7, 1953, the split frustro conical filler is formed ofsimilar longitudinally extending bars but abrasive blocks are seated inhardened plastic between the bars whereby the block faces, rather thanthe bar faces, project from the filler.

The object of this invention is to provide a liner, or jacket, for pulptreatment engines, wherein the shell liner or plug jacket is formed ofindividual segments shaped, when assembled together, to fit and coverthe operating face of a rotor or stator of such an engine and whereineach segment contains a multiplicity of upstanding individual blocks ofuniform cross section potted in, and anchored only by, a hardenedplastic material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a segmental liner for apulp refiner wherein each segment is a shallow tray in which amultiplicity of spaced, individual, blocks are bonded by epoxy resin, orthe like, into a unitary mass, each in upstanding position to form apocketed working face, Well above the level of the bonding material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a segmental liner orjacket wherein the working face of each segment is formed by the spacedapart faces of a multiplicity of individual, hollow, upstanding blocksof truncated tubular configuration, the blocks being of the samematerial or of any desired combination of different materials.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a low cost, ruggedworking surface for a pulp refining engine wherein the working membersare formed by potting a group of identical, individual upstanding,tubular blocks 3,665,920 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 in a shallow tray,bonding the group of blocks together at the bases thereof with epoxyresin or other suitable adhesive plastic material and then applying theshallow tray containing the bonded groups of blocks to the rotor 01'stator of the engine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sectional pulprefining surface in which a multiplicity of short, individual, abrasiveblocks are partially embedded in upstanding position in a hardenedplastic layer to form each individual section and at least one metalbar, equal in height to the blocks, is also embedded in the layer ofeach section for achieving both a shearing and an abrasive action in acommon working plane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theclaims, the description of the drawings and from the drawings in which-FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the step of dividing bars of rigidmaterial and uniform cross section into shorter, individual blocks.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the step of potting a multiplicity ofindividual blocks in upstanding position in a shallow tray.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the step of bonding the bases ofthe group of potted blocks into a unitary mass of segmental, orsectional, shape.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the step of applying the segments ofpotted, bonded, individual blocks to the working face of a disc typerotor or stator.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side sectional elevation of a frustro conicalshell of a pulp refining engine showing the segments being assembledinto a complete shell liner.

FIGS. 69 are perspective views of segments, or sections, of a liner forthe shell of frustro conical refining engines, FIG. 10 is a similar viewof segment for a plug jacket and FIG. 11 is a similar view of asegmental working face of a refining disc to illustrate the variety ofwork ing faces possible with the apparatus of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 the assembly of a segmental working face inaccordance with this invention includes what is termed a pottingoperation herein since it resembles the act of placing a number ofupstanding plants in a pot, tray or bed and securing the same by a layerof material up to the level of the container rim. It also resembles themosaic art except that mosaic elements are completely inlaid into theplastic layer while, in this invention, a substantial portion of theelements project above the layer and are arranged with spacestherebetween to form pockets.

It is recognized that the assembly of a liner or jacket from segments,or sections, of rigid material, each segment having a plurality ofprojecting work elements, is old in the disc refiner and Clafiin refinerarts, although it has not generally been applied to Jordan refiners.However, such sections have usually been metal castings formed at onetime in a mold and it has not been possible to vary the material withina single section as by combining metal bars with lava blocks or tootherwise achieve abrasive as well as shearing action in the samesegment.

As shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with this invention, a number ofdesired shapes and materials may be quickly and simply formed into workelements with a variety of refining actions. The work, treatment, orrefining elements of the invention are relatively short individualblocks preferably cut in uniform lengths from elongated rigid, hollowtubular, bars of uniform cross section. For example, an elongated bar 20of uniform, hollow, cylindrical cross section may be used and may be ofany suitable rigid material such as cast iron, copper, bronze,

brass, stainless steel, alloy steel, aluminum, abrasive,

ceramic, wood, plastic, glass, granite or lava stone. Instead of atubular bar 20, the bar may be of any desired cross section such as thehollow cubical bar 21, the solid 3 rectangular bar 22, the solidcylindrical bar 23 or the bar 24 having an axial bore andlongitudinalgrooves. Any suitable device may be used to divide the bars such as 20,21, 22, 23 and 24 up into individual blocks 25 and 26 such as thecircular saw 27.

As shown in the drawings, when the individual blocks of this inventionare in upstanding position they include a flat bottom face, because cutperpendicularly, laterally from an elongated bar, and the side faces ofthe blocks are normal to the flat bottom face, because the bars are ofuniform cross section.

A plurality of individual, segmental, backing means 30 are provided,each including a backing plate 31, of rigid material such as metal. Theplate 31 may be flat if forming a section of a liner for a rotor orstator of the flat disc type (FIG. 4) and may be of curved or arcuatecross section if forming a section of a liner for the shell, or jacketfor the plug of a truncated conical refining engine (FIG. 5). Suitablemeans 32 for detachably ailixing each backing means 30 to a rotor orstator and/or for detachably ailixing adjacent backing means to eachother is provided. The backing means 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shapedto conform to the fiat, annular face of a disc refiner shown in FIG. 4and includes the inclined opposite end flanges and 36 and screw, orbolt, holes such as 37 for screws or bolts 38. As shown in FIG. 4 thebacking means 30, may be bolted directly to the body of a disc rotor orstator to entirely or substantially cover the operating face thereofwith a complete segmental liner, or working surface, 42, As shown inFIG. 5 a plurality of backing means 39 may be assembled around the innerface 33 of a truncated, conical refiner shell 34 by means of retainingrings such as 43 and 44, overlying the flanges 35 and 36 or by means ofthe bolts 38 threaded directly into the shell body or both. Although notshown, it will be obvious that rings such as 43 and 44 and bolts such as33 may also be used to affix a plurality of suitably curved backingmeans similar to means 30 or 39 around the plug of a Jordan or Clafiinto entirely cover the working face thereof.

Preferably backing means 30 is of shallow, tray form and includes anoutwardly projecting rim 45 entirely around the planar imperforate traybottom, or plate, 31 for use in the potting and bonding steps to bedescribed hereinafter.

In constructing a segmental working surface according to the invention(FIG. 2) a multiplicity of individual blocks such as 25 and 26 areassembled in predetermined spatial arrangement on a backing plate 31 ofa segmental backing means 30. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 the blocks maybe closely packed in tangential, or sidewise abutting relation to eachother or the blocks may be arranged to form a predetermined pattern ofpockets in the working face of the segment. In the embodiment selectedfor illustration in FIGS. 2 and 3 the blocks are short, hollowcylinders, closely packed from rim to rim of backing means 30 but stillhaving pockets between the blocks as at 46 in addition to the pockets 47formed by the axial bores of each block. The blocks 25 and 26 are inupstanding position on the planar, imperforate, outer face 48 of thebacking plate 31 with their base portions 49 supported on the plate andtheir terminal portions 50 in a common plane parallel to the plane ofthe face 48.

In accordance with the invention (FIG. 3) a layer of hardened plasticmaterial 53 is formed on the backing plate 31, preferably up to thelevel of the rim 45, in which the base portion 49 of each block such as25 and 26 is firmly embedded. The terminal portions 50 of each blockproject beyond the outer face 54 of the layer 53 and beyond the rim 45.The layer 53 may be a casting resin, molten lead, molten sulphur orother low temperature melting point medium suitable for serving as amatrix which, upon hardening, secures all of the blocks assembled in thetray into a unitary integral mass. Preferably the layer 53 is an epoxyresin compound including a filler and hardener, which may be any one ofthe following commercially available products. Araldite made by Ciba Co.Inc., Kimberton, Pennsylvania or Polytool 6130 or Polytool 6140 bothmade by Reichhold Chemicals Inc, of White Plains, New York. The resin isconverted into a binder, without pressures or vacuums, and by a castingoperation from a suitable source such as the casting pot 55. Typically,the epoxy resin layer 53 is cured at room temperature of 70 F. to 80 F.in a period of from two to seven days or in a period of thirty minutesat temperatures of 240 F. to 300 F. depending on the hardener used inthe resin. The maximum environment temperature to which the workingsurfaces of this invention will be subjected in use is about 190 to 200F. and the thermoset resin layer 53 is not affected adversely by suchtemperatures. It will be obvious that a thin layer of the casting mediumcan be applied to the plate 31, the blocks then placed on the thin layerand the tray then filled up to rim 45 to submerge the base portions ofthe blocks in the plastic. However, merely pouring the casting mediuminto the tray 56, formed by backing means 30, until the tray is full andthen curing the plastic achieves a satisfactory bond between theadjacent blocks, the outer face 48 of plate 31 and the inner face 57 ofthe rim 45. The rim 45 may also be under cut or tilted inwardly ifdesired, to more firmly seat the mass in the tray.

The finished and cured segments may be shipped assembled on rings suchas 43 and 44- or may be shipped in overlying position to be assembled onthe working face of a rotor or stator where used. In the case of aJordan or Claflin, the tapered segments themselves form wedges whichenable the segmental liner to be tightened in the shell. It should benoted, also that a mass comprising only the blocks 25 and 26 and thehardened plastic layer 53 could be cast in removable molds and applieddirectly to the body of a stator or rotor although rigid backing meanssuch as 30 is preferred.

In FIGS. 6 to 11 various modifications are shown, all within the scopeof the invention and each adapted to provide a particular treatmenteffect. In FIG. 6 the segment 60 is designed for use in a Clafiinrefiner shell and is formed of a multiplicity of individual, closelypacked blocks 61 of abrasive material such as lava stone. A singleinclined flange 62 is provided to be wedged under the existing annularlip at the small end of a Clafiin and the large ends of the segments areheld in place by the removable head at the large end of the Clafiin.

In FIG. 7 a segment 65 similar to segment 60, is provided for a Clafiinshell. It differs from segment 60 only in that a groove or channel 66extends longitudinally thereof in a zigzag course to correspond to thegrooved type of abrasive liner known in the trade.

In FIG. 8 a shell liner segment 70 for a Clafiin refiner, is alsosimilar to segment 60 but includes at least one bar 71 preferably ofmetal for securing a shearing action. Preferably a plurality of barssuch as 71, 72 and 73 are provided, each having its outer face 74 in theplane of the outer faces 75 of the blocks 76. The bars 71 and 72 arezigzaged for the full length of the segment while the remaining barssuch as 73 terminate intermediate of the ends of the segment. The barssuch as 71 may be of cast iron, copper, bronze, brass, stainless steel,alloy steel, aluminum, abrasive, ceramic, wood plastic, glass, graniteor lava stone depending on the desired treatment action.

In FIG. 9 a segment is provided, similar to segment 70 except that thebars 81, similar to bars 71, are straight.

In FIG. 10 a segment is provided for the plug of a Clafiin refiner, theblocks 86 being similar to blocks 25 and 26. The inclined flange 87 iswedged under the existing annular lip of the small end of the Clafiinplug while the flange 88 is either bolted to the large end of the plugor clamped thereto in any well known manner.

In FIG. 11 a segment 90 for the Working face of a disc refiner isprovided similar in pattern to segment 85, except that the blocks 91 arein a single line tangential engagement and separated by clusters 92 and93 of straight bars 94, each having mating grooves such as 95 and 96 ofsemi-circular, or other desirable, cross section.

It will be understood that in the paper industry many different types ofcellulosic fibres must be refined to many different degrees in order tomeet the specifications for countless grades and types of sheets. Arefiner equipped with only one set of tackle, with the tackle made ofonly one material or made by an inflexible construction serves only alimited purpose in the manufacturing operation. By the method andapparatus of this invention it is possible to vary the materials withineach segment and vary the types of segments within each working surfaceto satisfy practically any set of operating conditions and to quicklychange tackle to meet a new set of conditions.

We claim:

1. In a pulp refiner, a composite wearing structure formed of aplurality of individual, segmental, backing means collectively coveringone of the operating faces of said refiner, each said backing meanscomprising a shallow tray of rigid material having a tray bottom with anouter face, an inner face shaped to conform to the configuration of, andoverlie, a segment of said operating face and an outwardly projectingrim extending entirely around the periphery of said outer face; a layerof hardened plastic material overlying, and bonded to, said outer face;a multiplicity of individual blocks of rigid material and uniform crosssection closely packed in longitudinal and lateral spaced arrangement insaid tray, each said block having a fiat bottom face supported on theouter face of said tray, a side face, normal to said bottom face, a baseportion embedded and bonded in said hardened plastic material and aworking face portion projecting outwardly beyond said layer to form aworking face on said wearing structure and means for detachably afiixingeach said backing means on said operating face.

2. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein all of said individualblocks are identical in shape and size, the working faces of said blocksare parallel to the flat bottom faces thereof and each said block istubular and of greater axial length than thickness.

3. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein all of said individualblocks are hollow cylinders upstanding on one end and closely packed intangential sidewise engagement with each other to form a working facewith a cylindrical pocket in each block and pockets of uniform crosssectional area between said blocks.

4. A combination as specified in claim 1 plus at least one upstandingshearing bar of metal projecting outwardly from said backing plateintermediate thereof, the base portion of said bar being embedded insaid layer and bonded to said plate by said layer and the outer workingface of said bar being flush with the outer working faces of said blocksfor forming a part of the working face of said wearing structure.

5. A working face segment for paper refiners, said segment comprising ashallow tray of rigid material having a tray bottom shaped to conform tothe shape of a section of the operating face of said refiner and havingan upstanding rim extending entirely around the periphery of saidbottom; a multiplicity of individual, elongated, tubular blocks closelypacked within said tray rim, each said block having a flat bottom facesupported on said tray bottom, a side face normal to said bottom faceand a base portion adjacent said bottom face, the remainder of saidblock constituting a working face; and a hard plastic layer binding thebase portion of each said block to the adjacent blocks and to said tray.

6. In a pulp refiner, a composite wearing structure forming an annuluson one side of a disc and comprising a plurality of individual,segmental backing means, each including a backing plate of rigidmaterial having a planar, imperforate outer face; a layer of hardenedplastic material overlying and bonded to the outer face of said backingplate of each said backing means; a multiplicity of individual blocks ofrigid material and uniform cross sect-ion closely packed in spacedupstanding arrangement on the outer face of said backing plate, eachsaid block having a fiat bottom face supported on said outer face, abase portion embedded and bonded by said hardened plastic material insaid layer and a terminal portion projecting beyond the outer face ofsaid layer to form a working face on said wearing structure.

7. A combination as specified in claim 6 wherein each said backing meansincludes an outwardly projecting rim around said backing plate, said rimterminating in the plane of the outer face of said hardened layer andthe said blocks proximate said rim are of hollow cylindricalconfiguration.

8. A combination as specified in claim 6 plus at least one upstandingshearing bar of metal projecting outwardly from said backing plateintermediate thereof, the base portion of said bar being embedded insaid layer and bonded to said plate by said layer and the outer workingface of said bar being in the plane of the outer working faces of saidblocks for forming a part of the working face of said wearing structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 22,588Stanford Jan. 11, 1859 887,575 Barry May 12, 1908 1,583,771 Bidwell May11, 1926 1,997,500 Swarovski Apr. 9, 1935 2,066,138 McKay-Clements Dec.29, 1936 2,390,351 Bolton Dec. 4, 1945 2,601,814 Larson July 1, 19522,633,778 Stuck Apr. 7, 1953 2,895,365 Myers et a1. July 21, 1959FOREIGN PATENTS 7,801 Great Britain of 1911 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Pulpand Paper Making by Witham Sr., pages 348-349. 352-353. Sc. LibraryDesignation TS 1105 55, 1942.

